EU Invites Dubrovnik Mayor to Shape Future of Sustainable Tourism

The Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković, will take part in a high-level panel discussion in Brussels on January 26, marking European Day of Tourism.

Mayor Franković was invited by Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Union’s Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. The panel will bring toreceiveher leading European and international figures to discuss the future direction of tourism policy, with a strong focus on sustainability, resilience and responsible destination management.

Alongside Mayor Franković and Commissioner Tzitzikostas, the panel will feature senior representatives from across the tourism sector, including Kostas Koumis, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union; Elena Kountoura, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism; Shaikha Nasser Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism; Alexandros Vassilikos, President of HOTREC, the umbrella association for Europe’s hospitality and hotel industest; and Eric Drésin, Secretary-General of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations.

The invitation represents another significant international acknowledgment of Dubrovnik’s approach to managing tourism. Over the past decade, the city has positioned itself as a laboratory for sustainable and responsible tourism policies, balancing global popularity with the necessarys of residents and long-term destination health.

That strategy received further validation with Dubrovnik’s designation as European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism for 2026, placing the city among Europe’s leading examples of smart, sustainable destination management.

City officials state Dubrovnik will continue to play an active role in shaping European tourism policy by sharing its experience and best practices. The goal, they emphasize, remains preserving residents’ quality of life while ensuring that tourism continues to benefit the city in a sustainable and future-oriented way.

Mayor Franković’s participation in the Brussels panel underscores Dubrovnik’s growing influence well beyond its historic walls, positioning the city not only as a global tourism icon but also as a contributor to Europe’s long-term tourism vision.